NEWSLETTER

2015

Monday, 31 August 2015

As expected, this summer took place the unification of Freemasonry in Bulgaria after 15 years of divisions and negotiations. On June 20, 2015, over 1,300 Brethren and 44 Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria merged with the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria, informs the Masonic Press Agency.

According to the same source, Ivan Sariev is the undisputed leader of the Bulgarian Freemasonry as a result of the unification process. The unification ceremony held in Sofia (Hotel Marinella, 11.00 o'clock) was attended by Grand Masters and delegations from Germany, Austria, Russia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland and the United States of America.

The Masonic Press Agency recently announced that in early June, the Grand Lodge ALPINA (Switzerland) decided to resume bilateral relations with the French National Grand Lodge and recognize GLNF again as the sole regular Grand Lodge in France. The same decision was taken by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina. This year many US Grand Lodges will adopt the same decision during their Annual Communications.

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

On June 15, 2015, at 6 AM, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Baja California, Raul Arturo Gomez Mariscal, passed to the Eternal Lodge. Brother Gomez Mariscal was Chairman of the Confederation of Regular Grand Lodges of the United Mexican States, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Supreme Council for Mexico and member of the Commission of Regularity of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges.

On 11-13 June 2015 took place the 3rd World Meeting of Francophone Lodges. The event was organized by Les Sages d'Heliopolis Lodge #53 of Bucharest (jurisdiction of the National Grand Lodge of Romania).

The world meeting was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Bucharest. On Thursday the organizers offered a cocktail reception for all Brethren attending the evetd. Friday was by two conferences: "Culture and Masonic esotericism" & "History and Society", and on Saturday was held a Masonic (ritualistic) meeting (at the Brâncovenesc Hall of the Parliament Palace) followed by a gala dinner. Saturday's event was attended by Grand Master Radu Balanescu, Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges.

From 5 to 7 June 2015 took place the European Conference of Grand Masters, event organized by the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia. On Friday evening was offered a reception and the conference began on Saturday morning. On Sunday took place the 47th Annual Communication of the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia. The conference was attended, among others, by Peter Lowndes (Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England), Radu Balanescu (Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania & Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges), Jean Pierre Servel (French National Grand Lodge), Stefano Bisi (Grand Orient of Italy), Rudiger Templin (United Grand Lodges of Germany), Andrei Bogdanov (Grand Lodge of Russia), Alfonso Ortega (Grand Lodge of Spain) etc.

It was the largest and most important Masonic event ever organized in Serbia. The leaders of (regular) Freemasonry discussed about the contribution of Freemasonry to the development of humanity, generally speaking, and particularly in Europe.

Grand Master Ranko Vujacic was reelected, and at the Annual Communication which took place on Sunday were awarded medals for those Brethren who have contributed to the development of the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia.

A few days earlier, the Masonic Academy of Serbia was inaugurated on June 1, 2015. The initiative belongs to the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia headed by Grand Master Ranko Vujacic. The event was attended, among others, by Thomas Jackson (Honorary President of the Academy) and Rudiger Templin (Grand Master of Germany) who gave a lecture on: "Freemasons in civil society and their responsibility in the 21st century".

On June 2, 2015 took place the meeting of the First Vice-President of the European Commission (Frans Timmermans) with the leaders of 7 European Masonic organizations and of 4 secular organizations. The discussions were focused on how we can live together respecting disagreements. Within the multilateral dialogue were reached topics such as freedom of expression, youth education, immigration and economic crisis.

For the first time since this multilateral meeting is organized it was requested that the next meeting to be attend also by religious leaders during the same session with those of Freemasonry in Europe. According to the Masonic Press Agency, both First Vice-President of the European Commission (Frans Timmermans) and Vice President of the European Parliament (Antonio Tajani) agreed.

At the end of May the Grand Lodge of Florida announced that Steven P. Boring (Past Senior Grand Warden) was installed as Grand Master. He will be assisted by Stanley Hudson (Deputy Grand Master).

Steven P. Boring (born in Elizabethton, Tennessee) worked for 28 years at Florida Power Corporation and served in the Army National Guard in Florida for 36 years. He was initiated into Freemasonry in East Gate Lodge #355 in Clearwater, being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on December 23, 1974.

Wednesday, 3 June 2015

According to the Masonic Press Agency, at the end of May took place the Annual Communication and Installation Ceremony of the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic. The event took place in the famous Strahov Monastery, Prague. The National Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia was founded in 1923. Subsequently, because of the World War II and the Soviet occupation, went into sleep. Czech Freemasonry revived in 1990.

The Annual Communication of the Czech Grand Lodge was attended by 14 European Grand Lodges, among them the Grand Masters of Scotland, Germany, Slovakia and Russia, Grand Chancellor of Spain etc.

Sunday, 24 May 2015

According to the official website of the Connaught Club, Burgoyne Lodge No. 902 will host on Saturday 13th June, starting at 5:00pm at Freemasons’ Hall an interview with the Metropolitan Grand Master (United Grand Lodge of England). For subscriptions please click here.

After a long period of reduced activity we have answered to all messages received via our official Facebook page. Thank you to all of you. But a message from a Brother in Europe oblige us to give an open answer. In first phase, this Brother asked us why we do not announce the event indicated by him. In the second phase he accused us for being "Regular".

Well, there are some certain things we need to state:

We are not just Regular, bur Regular Freemasons, yes and we are proud of it.

We do not publish anything which is not in accordance with our policy.

This European Brother was referring to the Annual General Assembly of CLIPSAS, an international Masonic organization which is irregular, being composed by irregular Grand Lodges/Orients, whose lineage goes back to the Grand Orient of France. Except the Grand Orients of France and Belgium the other Masonic organizations are almost not important in their countries. Thus we do not want to promote such event and we rather announce the activities of the French National Grand Lodge (GLNF), Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium etc.

We have published since we have started this activity a lot of news regarding some irregular Masonic organizations, but our main line of news/articles are based on the lineage of the United Grand Lodge of England and the AASR Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America (Mother Grand Lodge of the World & Mother Supreme Council of the World).

Monday, 11 May 2015

The World Conference on Fraternalism, Freemasonry, and History: Research in Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society (La Conférence Mondiale sur la Fraternité, la Franc-maçonnerie et l'Histoire, recherche sur les notions de rituel, de secret et leur rapport à la Société civile) will take place on 29 & 30 May 2015 in Paris, France. This first conference will be hosted by the National Library of Paris and will be cosponsored by:

According to PSO's description, the conference "focuses on the study of ritual, secrecy, and civil society vis-à-vis the dynamics of Masonic scholarship around the world. The conference explores how civil society, secrecy, and ritual have been important elements during different episodes of local and world histories, and indeed still are. The WCFFH 2015 is a part of the PSO's support of research into social capital, civility, and the role of non governmental organizations in democracy".

According to the MPA, from 10 to 14 April 2015 took place the General Assembly of the Inter-American Masonic Confederation (founded in April 14, 1947), an event organized by the Grand Lodge of Spain in the Auditorium Hotel of Madrid. The meeting was attended by representatives of Grand Lodges of Latin America and Europe (IMC members) and representatives of the Grand Lodges in Europe, recalling here the Grand Chancellor of United Grand Lodge of England, and the Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Grand Lodges, Radu Balanescu (Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania). A total of 51 Grand Masters together with 120 officials of over 50 Grand Lodges and Grand Orients.

This was a double historical event for the oldest, most active and largest regional Masonic organization in the world (IMC) because it was for the first time in history that the General Assembly was held outside Latin America and it also was for the first time in history that the President of the confederation is from Europe: Oscar de Alfonso Ortega, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Spain. The Executive Secretariat was taken by the Past Grand Master of Bolivia.

At only 47 years old, Oscar de Alfonso made history with the revitalization of the Grand Lodge of Spain, the restoration of the relations with the Supreme Council for Spain and for being the first European in history to occupy the position of President of the Inter-American Masonic Confederation.

This year's edition of the European Masonic Meeting will take place in Romania's capital city of Bucharest, organized by Invictus Lodge.

According to the Masonic Press Agency, The meeting was held for the first time in 2003 at the initiative of Eric Tedeschi, Worshipful Master of "La Chaîne d'Union Européenne" Lodge #183 (GLNF). In recent years the event has been hosted by several European cities such as: Longwy, Arlon, Bergisch Gladbach, Luxembourg, Saverne, Berlin, Andorra la Vella, Larwik, Montecatini Terme, Paphos, Husum and Belgrade. The event will take place from 22 to 24 May 2015.

Monday, 23 March 2015

According to a press release of the Freemasons' Grand Charity, an amount of £20,000 was donated through the Red Cross for Vanuatu's Cyclone victims.

Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an Oceanian island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some 1,750 km east of northern Australia, 500 km northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.

The President of this Republic stated that: "After all the development we have done for the last couple of years and this big cyclone came and just destroyed... all the infrastructure the government has... built. Completely destroyed."

Tuesday, 17 March 2015

"United Grand Lodges of Serbia, Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons is sovereign, regular and recognized Masonic Grand Lodge with its headquarters in Belgrade, Serbia. United Grand Lodges have under its protection twenty two just and duly constituted Lodges with over six hundred members.

As Freemasons, we submit to all tenets, principles, and ancient traditions of Freemasonry, which means that we believe in the Supreme Being, that the Book of the Sacred Law is always open on the Altar while the Lodge is at work, that we don’t discuss religion and politics in our Lodges, and that we are Brotherhood open for membership to all free adult men of good report, regardless of their religious beliefs, race, nationality, language, or social origin. Faith in God, Charity, and Brotherly Love are three supporting pillars of our Brotherhood.

Continuing honorable traditions of the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia, founded in 1919, put to sleep in 1940, and then again awaken in 1990, United Grand Lodges of Serbia were founded on June 8th 2006, as a result of the desire of Serbian Freemasons from different groups and fractions, to unite under one roof. Lodges under protection of the UGLS work in three permanent Temples in Belgrade, Loznica, and Novi Sad, and five Temples in rented spaces in Niš, Kruševac, Ċuprija, Zrenjanin, and Sombor.

The Temple of the United Grand Lodges of Serbia, erected in Belgrade in 2008, was the very first Masonic Temple built in Serbia after the Second World War. UGLS Library is first specialized Masonic Library in the Region of Western Balkans, and member of the Masonic Library and Museum Association.

Constant education of its members is one of the most important aspects of the long term development of the UGLS. To facilitate best possible educational tools and conditions, UGLS, besides enriching its library funds, has extensive publishing program. We have published Manuals for all three degrees, Catechizes for all three degrees, Ritual Books, Almanac UGLS, as well as books on various masonic subjects written by the authors who are members of the UGLS.

Part of our publishing program also covers publishing of the magazine Neimar, an official quarterly publication of the UGLS, which is now in its fourth year of existence with seventeen issues so far.

In order to sit in the East, all qualified Lodge officers must complete educational course “Road to the East”. Masonic education is organized and coordinated by the Committee on Education and Publishing.

In 2007 we have founded Charity organization “Nezaboravak” (Forget-me-not), which is completely supported by the work and monetary contributions of the UGLS members. In seven years of its existence we organized and supported many large charity events which have been well received in Serbian society. For our charity work we have received numerous national and international recognitions and awards, which you can see in the documents we submitted to you.

On the field of international Masonic relations, we have always maintained strict rules of the recognition and have never entered into masonic contact or relation with any masonic group or Jurisdiction which is not regular by all recognized standards of regularity. So far, we have exchanged Treaties of Amity with Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of California, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alberta, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of South Carolina, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina, and Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia.

Our Jurisdiction has been visited by the Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Austria Nikolaus Schwarzler and by the Past Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Germany Alfred Koska and they both recognized our origin and work as regular, which was documented by the letters I submitted to you. We also have a strong fraternal relationship with the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy, with whose help in 2010 three new Lodges were founded with the purpose of working emulation ritual.

We are strong regular Masonic Jurisdiction with excellent membership growth and retention rate of almost 100%. In our long term development we envisioned more permanent Temples and more Lodges in many more cities in Serbia. Regular Freemasonry has much to offer to the Serbian society and we are doing our part to the best of our abilities.

We do believe that stronger ties with international Masonic community would be beneficial for our work and that is the reason we seek your recognition. We also believe that some type of understanding, cooperation, or possible unification between UGLS and Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia would we beneficial for the future development of Freemasonry in Serbia, and for this we seek your support, guidance and advice. Also, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Germany Rudiger Templin proposed in 2011 in correspondence to UGLS to have Grand Masters of United Grad Lodge of Germany and of Grand Lodge of Austria as mediators in the process of unification of the UGLS and RGLS. We are willing to consider any solution that would benefit Freemasonry in Serbia."

After the announcement made by the Masonic Press Agency on 24 February 2015, the United Grand Lodges of Serbia reacted and wished to express its position regarding, what they call, the reality of Serbian Freemasonry. Thus, the United Grand Lodges of Serbia announces the following via the Masonic Press Agency:

"In regard to the article published on their website on February 18th, as well as on the Masonic Press Agency on February 24th, by Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia, United Grand Lodges of Serbia are stating following:

From February 13th to February 18th was held Conference of the Grand Masters of the North America in Vancouver (Canada). One of the topic of discussion for the Committee on recognition was the situation of the Freemasonry in Serbia, on the request by the United Grand Lodges of Serbia, which in timely manner submitted request and material for discussion.

The reason for raising this question by the UGLS before the Committee on recognition lies in deep commitment of the United Grand Lodges of Serbia to the prosperity and unity of regular Freemasonry in Serbia.

The claim by the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia that it is “the only recognized Masonic Jurisdiction” in Serbia is half-truth whit which the leadership of the RGLS wants to fool its membership and the general public in Serbia. If that is completely truth the request by the United Grand Lodges of Serbia to the Committee on recognition would never be taken into consideration at the first place. And when Committee on Recognition stated in its report that the “Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia was still the only recognized Masonic body in Serbia” it was in the context of statement that the question on situation in Serbian Freemasonry will not be discussed because representative of the United Grand Lodges of Serbia were not present and they are looking forward discussing this issue at the Grand Masters Conference in 2016.

It is the fact, same as in Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, and many other countries in the world, that in Serbia exist two Masonic Jurisdictions which are both regular by their origin and work. In Serbia, those are United Grand Lodges of Serbia and Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia. Often, mainstream Grand Lodges, due to the concept of “exclusive territorial jurisdiction” have a problem which Grand Lodge to recognize if there are more than one on the same territory. So, today we have example of Italy, where UGLE recognizes Regular Grand Lodge of Italy, while North American Jurisdictions recognize Grand Orient of Italy; example of Greece, where UGLE recognizes Grand Lodge of Greece, and Scotland and Ireland recognize National Grand Lodge of Greece etc. The case of two Grand Lodges in Bulgaria fighting for dominance and discussing potential unification for last ten years is another well-known example.

In order to prevent any discussions about the future of Freemasonry in Serbia and in order to undermine good and positive works of the UGLS, RGLS uses every opportunity to reinforce their exclusive right to practice of Freemasonry in Serbia. This is more obvious in past few years, since UGLS intensified its international activities. If United Grand Lodges of Serbia didn’t raise the question of the future of Freemasonry in Serbia in its request submitted to the Committee on Recognition, RGLS would never come out with reclaiming recognition.

The regularity of the origin and work of the United Grand Lodges of Serbia nobody in the world denies. More so, leaders of the Freemasonry from other mainstream Jurisdictions, which visited and inspected work of the UGLS, all recognized our regularity. This was also confirmed by the Conference of Grand Masters of the Prince Hall Grand Lodges in 2014, where UGLS was a guest and where it gain several recognition from the Prince Hall Grand Lodges.

Unlike their present leadership, we aim for the prosperity of Freemasonry in Serbia, where both Jurisdictions would give their part and prosper, separate or together. One of our goals to unite all Serbian Freemasons into one organization.

For this idea we gained support of the Grand Master of United Grand Lodges of Germany, which brought Masonic light back to Serbia in 1990, and of the Grand Master of Austria, which is evident from the correspondence they had with UGLS leadership.

Also, statement of the Alfred Koska, PGM of the UGLG, who visited and inspected our work on two occasions, witness to the regularity of our origin and work. The support of the Regular Grand lodge of Italy in establishing three lodges working emulation work is another example of the support and recognition we received from the international Masonic community. Last, but not least, the activities of our charity organization “Nezaboravak” ( Forget-Me-Not) which we founded and support since 2007, which received many domestic and international recognitions for its work, ad to the story about UGLS and our work."

The Masonic Press Agency informs that in support of their (meaning the United Grand Lodges of Serbia) statement they have sent the following documents:

Monday, 2 March 2015

On the occasion of the 158th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska took place the Installation Ceremony of Most Worshipful John T. Maxell as Grand Master. The ceremonies, including the installation of the Grand Lodge Officers took place in the last week of February.

Monday, 23 February 2015

Next month (March 20th to 21st) will take place the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Kansas (United States) at Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center. According the the official Facebook page of the Grand Lodge, Brother Andrew Hammer will be the keynote speaker during the annual communication.

Friday, 20 February 2015

An announcement made by the Masonic Press Agency a week ago brings attention, once again, for what happens in French Freemasonry. On 28 May 2015 will take place a historic event in the French capital. The French National Grand Lodge and the Grand Orient of France will hold a joint conference: The GLNF-GOdF Lafayette Meetings (Freemasonry, School of thought, School of spirituality).

The event will take place at GOdF's Grand Temple, the subject being: La Franc-Maçonnerie face à ses mythes. Even if the two Masonic organizations represent two different paths, they prove that the dialogue has always been a tool of Freemasonry. GLNF and GOdF are the most important Masonic organizations in the Hexagon. Jean-Pierre Servel demonstrates again the high Masonic diplomacy.

According to Freemasonry Today, the members of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 are hosting a conference at Queens’ College, Cambridge from Friday, 9 September 2016 to Sunday 11 September 2016. The conference is open to all Freemasons and non-Freemasons interested in masonic history.

Quatuor Coronati Lodge #2076was founded in 1884 (consecrated 1886) by nine brethren who were intent on using an evidence-based approach to the study of Masonic history and research into Freemasonry. This innovative approach was intended to replace the imaginative writings of earlier authors on the history of Freemasonry. This new style and approach was later to be referred to as the 'authentic school' of Masonic research.

The founding members were Brothers Sir Charles Warren, William Harry Rylands, Robert Freke Gould, The Revd Adolphus Frederick Alexander Woodford, Sir Walter Besant, John Paul Rylands, Major Sisson Cooper Pratt, William James Hughan and George William Speth.

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

As expected, the signatory Grand Lodges of Basel recognized their failure. According to the Masonic Press Agency, the Grand Lodges of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Estonia and Germany re-recognized the French National Grand Lodge (GLNF). The decisions of the Scandinavian Grand Lodges came in the context of the decision taken by the United Grand Lodge of England, an action supporting GLNF's reality.

Less expected were the decisions of the United Grand Lodges of Germany, Grand Lodge of Austria and the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium. These Grand Lodges, together with the Grand Lodges of Switzerland (Alpine) and Luxembourg, were the signatories of the Declarations of Basel, Brussels and Berlin, documents which encouraged the Grand Lodge of France (GLdF) to hope for international recognition.

The decision of the Senate of the United Grand Lodges of Germany (31 January 2015) comes amid the failure of GLdF and that of Grand Master Marc Henry to promote, vote and promulgate the fundamental constitutional changes necessary to start the process of international recognition and also on the background changes made within GLNF, realized with great success under the mandate of Grand Master Jean Pierre Servel. The decision of the Senate was unanimously passed.

The Grand Lodge of Luxembourg re-recognized the French National Grand Lodge. The decision was adopted on 11 February 2015 during an Extraordinary session of the mentioned Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Luxembourg is the fourth signatory Grand Lodge of the Basel Declaration which recognized again GLNF. The ALPINA Grand Lodge of Switzerland will recognize again GLNF, most likely at the beginning of this summer (at the latest).

The same source informs that a month ago (8 January 2015), the Supreme Council for England and Wales announced the suspension of recognition for the Supreme Council for France (SCplF). The decision of the Supreme Council in London has immediate effect and stipulates, among other, that the members of the Scottish Order in England should not to visit the Lodges/Chapters under the jurisdiction of the AASR of SCplF. Also, members SCplF's members must not visit the Lodges/Chapters within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council for England and Wales.

Given the position adopted by the current leader of SCplF (Jean-Luc Fauque, President of the Confederation of European Supreme Councils) regarding the French National Grand Lodge and taking into account the decision of the United Grand Lodge of England, it is understandable why the English Jurisdiction of the AASR decided to suspend relations with the Supreme Council for France.

Equally important was the lack of representatives from Northern and Southern Jurisdictions of the AASR for the United States at SCplF's Annual Communication in December 2014. It is important to observe which will be the international reactions following the decision in London and how and if Fauque will be received at the biennial of the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America (Washington D.C.).

Following the attacks that took place in Paris in January, almost all Masonic organizations in France have issued press releases condemning the actions of terrorists. Freemasons from around the world expressed their condolences and support to French Freemasons, messages being received from: Malta, Slovenia, Peru, Turkey, Ukraine, Haiti, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Romania, Greece, Croatia, China, Azerbaijan, Togo, Italy, Latin America etc.

Wednesday, 4 February 2015

According to the Masonic Press Agency, last year the Grand Master of Chile received the President at the Annual Communication:

President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet visited the Grand Lodge of Chile. This is the first time in the history of this country when a President makes an official visit and talks in front of the Grand Lodge of Chilean Freemasons. At the time of her entry into the Grand Temple, Bachelet was cheered by over 650 Freemasons and guests present. Bachelet's father was a Freemason, as was her maternal grandfather.

Chilean Presidency informed that Mrs. President attended the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Chile to provide to the national Freemasonry a recognition for its contribution to education, freedom, State and public policies.

The Most Worshipful Grand Master of Chile said: "We feel particularly proud because, you, Madam President, you are always considered a person close to our institution."

The Masonic Press Agency informed yesterday that Helmut Schmidt, former Chancellor of Germany, received on 26 January 2015 the Stresemann Prize from one of the 5 Grand Lodges composing the United Grand Lodges of Germany.

Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt was born at the end of World War I. He is a German Social Democratic (SPD) politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Prior to becoming Chancellor, he had served as Minister of Defence (1969-1972). As Minister of Finance (1972 to 1974), he gained credit for financial policies that consolidated the Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle), giving Germany the most stable currency and economic position in the world. He had also served briefly as Minister of Economics and as acting Foreign Minister.

As Chancellor, he focused on international affairs, seeking "political unification of Europe in partnership with the United States". He was an energetic diplomat who sought European co-operation and international economic co-ordination. He was re-elected chancellor in 1976 and 1980, but his coalition fell apart in 1982 with the switch by his coalition allies, the Free Democratic Party. He retired from Parliament in 1987, after clashing with the SPD's left wing, who opposed him on defence and economic issues. In 1986 he was a leading proponent of European monetary union and a European Central Bank.